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Threats to Armenia's Security in the National Strategy and Practice With Polish Political Science Yearbook vol. 46 (1) (2017), pp. 74–90 DOI: 10.15804/ppsy2017105 PL ISSN 0208-7375 Krystyna Gomółka Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland) Threats to Armenia’s Security in the National Strategy and Practice with Special Emphasis on External Security Abstract: The national security strategy adopted in 2007 provided a detailed defi- nition of security and identified its threats. The key threat to the Armenian state was considered to be the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The document indicated the Collective Security Treaty Organisation main guarantor of security, with Rus- sia being Armenia’s main partner in bilateral relations. The second position in the strategy was assigned to cooperation with the NATO and the OSCE. One of the priorities identified was to intensify the economic and trade connections with the European Union and participation in the European Neighbourhood Policy as a step towards integration with European structures. As to bilateral relations, the most significant were Armenia’s contacts with Georgia and Iran. If we compare the assumptions of the strategy with the policy pursued by Armenia after 2007, it is clear that the measures taken are in line with the provisions of the document. By the end of 2016, the most serious threat to Armenia – the Nagorno-Karabakh issue – remained unresolved. Russia reinforced its position as Armenia’s strategic ally. The talks conducted between Armenia and the NATO are of little signifi- cance in view of the obligations assumed by Armenia. The same goes for the talks with the European Union after Armenia’s withdrawal from signing the associa- tion agreement, accession to the Eurasian Economic Union on 01 January 2015 and signing bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation. Keywords: Armenia; Caucasus; Nagorno-Karabakh; NATO; European Neighbour- hood Policy Threats to Armenia’s Security 75 The Republic of Armenia is the smallest country of the South Caucasus region, with an area of a mere 29,800 km2. The country has no access to the sea; it shares a 787 km border with Azerbaijan (including a 221 km border with the Nakhchivan Autono- mous Republic), 164 km with Georgia, 35 km with Iran and 268 km with Turkey (Państwa Świata, 2009, p. 22.) As of 31 December 2012, Armenia had a population of 3,026,000, with Armenians accounting for 98.11% of the country’s citizens. The majority were members of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Population in Arme- nia). Armenians are an Indo-European nation, for centuries supported by Russia as a counterbalance for the Islamic nations, which may also explain Armenians’ positive feelings towards Russia (Włodkowska-Bagan, 2012, pp. 69 – 73). While Armenian is the official language, other languages used include Kurdish, used by the Yazidis, and Russian. For many years, Armenia has been involved in an ethnic and territorial dispute with Azerbaijan concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. „For Armenians Karabakh is the last outpost Karabakh is the last outpost Karabakh is the last outpost Azerbaijanis talk of it as a cradle nursery, or conservatoire, the birthplace of their musicians and poets” (de Wall, 2003, p. 3) After the 1992 conflict concluded with peace negotiations in 1994 under the auspices of the Minsk group of OSCE, no permanent solution was reached because of differences in positions (Cheterian, 2008, pp. 88 – 90). As a result of the war 750,000 people were relocated, and there are still incidents and skirmishes on the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh (Świętochowski, 2006, p. 174). Communication and trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan and its supporter – Turkey – has ceased. These events led to a partial isolation of Armenia in the region and limited its room for manoeuvre in international politics. Russia remains an ally of Armenia, without any likely alternative. These were the circumstances of developing the first and only national security strategy of Armenia in 2007. By the end of 2016, no changes had been introduced to the document. The aim of this study is to analyse the assumptions of the national security strategy, with particular emphasis on external security, and their reflection in the country’s policy and alliances. The hypothesis of the study is as follows: the strategy assumptions defined the threats to the state security, Armenia’s strategic partners and the direction of its foreign policy. To verify this hypothesis, the author framed the following research questions: (1) What external and internal threats to Armenia’s security were mentioned in security strategy? (2) What aspects of foreign policy were defined by the strategy? (3) What is the place of the Russian Federation, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the European Union and NATO in the foreign policy of Ar- menia? (4) Which objectives of the strategy have been successfully put into practice? 76 Krystyna Gomółka (5) What differences can be observed between the wording of the strategy and the policy pursued by Armenia? The article is based on the literature available and website materials. The Assumptions of the National Security Strategy In the introductory part of the document, stating the definition of national secu- rity, the concept of national security was equated with state security (Koziej, 2011, pp. 20 – 21). National security is defined as a policy aimed at guaranteeing security of the state, sustainable development and preservation of the Armenian national identity. The state security was to be guaranteed by efficient governance, the rule of law, demo- cratic values, independent and impartial judiciary, military forces ensuring security and foreign policy supporting Armenia’s involvement at the international forum. The document emphasises guarantees of the country’s territorial integrity, inviolability of its borders and ensuring peace (Republic of Armenia, National Security of Strategy). Threats to the national security were defined in the strategy as actions from external and internal sources. The key security issues were considered to be the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict and the policy of Azerbaijan and Turkey, whose actions could result in a blockade of transport routes and obstacles to transit and trade. Economic sanctions imposed on Iran – Armenia’s ally – could also present a security threat. That is why the Collective Security Treaty Organization membership is vital for Armenia. Its signatories declared that they would refrain from the use of force against other countries and from joining other military pacts. They also affirmed that aggression against one signatory would be perceived as an aggression against the entire organisa- tion. Armenia considers its participation in this organization as a means to ensure its security and supplies of military equipment on preferential terms and combat terrorism and trafficking in arms and drugs. With a view to improving its energy security, Armenia participates in the activities of TRACECA and INOGATE, and in the first decade of the 21st century it built a number of hydroelectric power plants. Epidemics and natural disasters are also con- sidered to be a significant threat to Armenia’s external security. A factor contributing to the national security should be the preservation of national identity of the Armenian diaspora, whose efforts are enhancing the international position of Armenia (Republic of Armenia, National Security Strategy). The strategy indicates the following internal security threats: decreased efficiency of public administration, loss of trust in the judiciary, slow progress of reforms, shortcomings in election procedures, lack of social services, unequal access to health service and education, low degree of urbanisation, low rate of natural increase and Threats to Armenia’s Security 77 depopulation of rural areas. The challenges identified include the creation of a com- petitive market economy, reduction of the grey economy, including illegal money transfers, trade liberalisation, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, expansion of transport and telecommunications networks and education meeting the demands of the economy. According to the document, the measures aimed at improving the national security taken by the Armenian government related to reforms ensuring sustainable development of the state based on democratic values and use of best practices. The objectives considered essential for the national security include efficient public administration, respecting human rights, development of a civil society, reforms of the judiciary, increasing the efficiency of local governments, combating corruption and establishment of a crisis management centre. The document stressed that, to be able to resist aggression from the outside and ensure integrity of the state, Armenia should build national armed forces according to the latest European standards and to engage in cooperation to address the conflicts in the region. Integrity of the state should be promoted by building a competitive, financially stable market-based economy, creating favourable conditions for Armenian and foreign businesses and promoting ecological and energy-efficient technologies. In economic terms, measures aimed at a greater energy independence and more efficient use of ecological sources and nuclear energy were indicated as priority. Practices promoting environmental protection were provided for, such as cleaning lake Sevan, supervision over the storage of hazardous waste and creating an early warning system for disasters. Internal security of Armenia should be promoted by new quality of life,
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